Poly(ethylene carbonate) nanoparticles as carrier system for chemotherapy showing prolonged in vivo circulation and anti-tumor efficacy.

The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of PEC nanoparticles as delivery system for cancer chemotherapy. Assembly of paclitaxel-loaded nanoparticles with high loading efficiency and narrow-size distribution is successful. For non-invasive in vivo tracing, nanoparticle blends of chelator bearing poly(lactide) with PEC and PLGA are successfully prepared. Pharmacokinetic studies in mice reveal a twofold higher circulation time of PEC as compared to PLGA. A tumor model shows an accumulation of PEC NPs in cancerous tissue and a higher anti-tumor efficiency compared to the standard Taxol™, which is reflected in a significantly slower tumor growth compared to the NaCl control group.

Drug eluting stents based on Poly(ethylene carbonate): optimization of the stent coating process.

First generation drug eluting stents (DES) show a fivefold higher risk of late stent thrombosis compared to bare metal stents. Therefore, new biodegradable and biocompatible polymers for stent coating are needed to reduce late stent thrombosis. In this study, a reproducible spray-coating process for stents coated with Poly(ethylene carbonate), PEC, and Paclitaxel was investigated. PEC is a biocompatible, thermoelastic polymer of high molecular weight. The surface degradation of PEC is triggered by superoxide anions produced by polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages during inflammatory processes. Stents with different drug loading were reproducibly produced by a spray-coating apparatus. Confocal laser scanning micrographs of fluorescent dye loaded stents were made to investigate the film homogeneity. The abluminal stent site was loaded more than the luminal site, which is superior for DES. The deposition of the layers was confirmed by TOF-SIMS investigations. Referring to the stent surface, the drug loading is 0.32 µg (± 0.05) (once coated), 0.53 µg (± 0.11) (twice coated), or 0.73 µg (± 0.06) (three times coated) Paclitaxel per mm(2) stent surface. The in vitro release mechanism during non-degradation conditions can be explained by diffusion-controlled drug release slightly influenced by swelling of PEC, revealing that 100% of the loaded Paclitaxel will be released via diffusion within 2 months. So, the in vivo release kinetic is a combination of diffusion-controlled drug release and degradation-controlled drug release depending on the presence or absence of superoxide anions and accordingly depending on the presence or absence of macrophages. We conclude that the specific release kinetics of PEC, its biocompatibility, and the favorable mechanical properties will be beneficial for a next generation drug eluting stent meriting further investigations under in vivo conditions.

Pharmacokinetic and technical comparison of Sandostatin® LAR® and other formulations of long-acting octreotide.

BACKGROUND: Sandostatin® LAR® (Novartis Pharma AG) is a long-acting repeatable formulation of the somatostatin analogue octreotide, the safety and efficacy of which has been established through 15 years of clinical experience. Recently, other formulations of octreotide using polymer poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) technology have been developed. This study compares the composition and pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of Sandostatin LAR with three other versions of the depot delivery system (formulations A, B and C, available in selected countries). FINDINGS: Sandostatin LAR exhibited a characteristic concentration-time profile with a limited initial release of octreotide ('burst'), an erosion phase from weeks 3-5, and a slowly declining concentration to day 52. The PK profiles of formulations A and B were characterized by a large initial burst during days 0-2, with up to 41% of the overall area under the plasma-concentration time curve achieved. Low and variable octreotide concentrations were observed during the microparticle erosion phase (days 2-62 [day 82 formulation C]) for formulations A, B and C. Sandostatin LAR microparticles are spherical in shape with an average diameter of approximately 50 µm, determined by scanning electron microscopy evaluation. Formulation A had smaller, irregular microparticles, and formulations B and C exhibited a large range of particle diameters (< 20 to > 100 µm). Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy detected a high tin content of 104 mg/kg in formulation B, the presence of which may suggest inadequate purification following polymer synthesis using tin(II)-octoate as catalyst. PK profiles for formulations A, B and C after a single intramuscular injection of 4 mg/kg in male New Zealand rabbits differed markedly from the PK profile of Sandostatin LAR. CONCLUSIONS: Clear differences were seen between Sandostatin LAR and formulations A, B and C, including variations in microparticle size, shape and impurity content. Considering the significant differences in the octreotide release profile between Sandostatin LAR and the other formulations, the safety and efficacy of the other formulations cannot be inferred from the Sandostatin LAR efficacy and safety profile; each of these other formulations should be assessed accordingly.

Biodegradable poly(ethylene carbonate) nanoparticles as a promising drug delivery system with "stealth" potential.

The goal of this study was to investigate the suitability of poly(ethylene carbonate) (PEC) nanoparticles as a novel drug delivery system, fulfilling the requirements for a long circulation time. Particles were obtained with a narrow size distribution and nearly neutral zeta potential. Adsorption studies with human plasma proteins revealed that PEC nanoparticles bind much less proteins in comparison to polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles. Cell experiments with fluorescently labeled PEC showed no uptake of the nanoparticles by macrophages. These novel PEC nanospheres with their unique surface properties are a promising candidate for long circulating drug delivery systems in vivo.

A two-stage strategy for sterilization of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) particles by γ-irradiation does not impair their potency for vaccine delivery.

This study evaluated the feasibility of using γ-irradiation for preparing sterile poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) formulations for vaccines. PLG microparticles were prepared by water-in-oil-in-water double-emulsion technique and lyophilized. The vials were γ-irradiated for sterilization process. Antigens from Neisseria meningitidis were adsorbed onto the surface of the particles and were characterized for protein adsorption. Antigens adsorbed onto the surface of the irradiated particles within 30 min. Mice were immunized with these formulations, and vaccine potency was measured as serum bactericidal titers. The γ-irradiated PLG particles resulted in equivalent serum bactericidal titers against a panel of five N. meningitidis strains as the nonirradiated PLG particles. The use of PLG polymers with different molecular weights did not influence the vaccine potency. The PLG particles prepared by γ-irradiation of the lyophilized formulations replace the need for aseptic manufacturing of vaccine formulations. This approach may enable the use of PLG formulations with a variety of antigens and stockpiling for pandemics.

Biocompatibility of an injectable in situ forming depot for peptide delivery.

Poly(ethyleneglycol) 500 dimethylether (PEG500DME) was tested as a novel solvent for the manufacture of an injectable in situ forming depot (ISFD) containing poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA). The sustained release of pasireotide from the ISFD was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the local tolerability of the delivery system using PEG500DME was investigated in subcutaneous (s.c.) tissue over 48 days. A flow-through cell was used to determine the in vitro drug release from the ISFD in comparison to a peptide suspension without polymer. The biocompatibility as well as the pharmacokinetic profile of the ISFD was investigated in rabbits. A prolonged peptide release over at least 48 days with an initial burst lower than 1% was observed in vitro for the ISFD compared to the suspension without polymer. A similar tissue response as it was observed for other common PLGA delivery systems was found upon histopathological examination of tissue from the administration site in rabbits. A sustained release of at least 48 days in vivo confirmed the in vitro observation including the low initial plasma concentration levels. Two ISFDs with different peptide loads were used to correlate the in vitro and in vivo data (IVIVC). Overall, the functionality of the ISFD containing PEG500DME as a novel solvent was demonstrated in vitro and in vivo. In addition, the local tolerability of the system confirmed the biocompatibility of PEG500DME in parenteral depots.

Poly(ethylene carbonate) as a surface-eroding biomaterial for in situ forming parenteral drug delivery systems: a feasibility study.

To evaluate the technical feasibility of poly(ethylene carbonate), PEC, for injectable in situ forming drug delivery systems, the physical properties of PEC solutions were characterized. The solubility of PEC was investigated in different solvents, and the Hildebrand solubility parameters and Flory-Huggins interaction parameters of PEC were determined. By turbidity titration, the experimental ternary phase diagram of water-NMP/DMSO-PEC was constructed. NMP solution required more water to precipitate PEC compared to DMSO solution. The dynamic viscosity of PEC solution increased at lower temperature, higher polymer concentration and longer aging time. Differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) measurements confirmed only weak physical interactions in the system after aging, and the physical aging effect was thermo-reversible. Release of NMP from PEC formulations was twofold slower than that of DMSO at similar concentrations. The morphology of PEC depots after injection into aqueous solution was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A DMSO formulation of bovine serum albumin displayed less burst release than a NMP formulation. In summary, our investigations demonstrate that in situ depot forming systems can be obtained from PEC solutions. Moreover, a solution of PEC in DMSO would be preferred over NMP due to the reduced burst release.

Poly(ethyleneglycol) 500 dimethylether as novel solvent for injectable in situ forming depots.

PURPOSE: Poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) solutions in poly(ethyleneglycol)600 (PEG600), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and poly(ethyleneglycol)500 dimethylether (PEG500DME) as a novel solvent, were investigated as suitable for use in injectable in situ forming depots (ISFD). METHODS: The hemolytic potential of the solvents was investigated. Viscosimetry was used to determine rheological properties of solvents and PLGA solutions. DSC was used to evaluate the stability of the PLGA solutions through investigation of the melting behavior of semicrystalline PEGs which depended on tempering and glass transition temperature of the PLGA. Phase separation was studied to determine ternary phase diagrams. In vitro release kinetics of the solvents and the surrogate methylene blue were investigated. RESULTS: Significantly less hemolysis was observed for PEG500DME compared to PEG600 and NMP. Newtonian fluid properties were found for all polymer solutions. A melting point depression of the solvents was detected in presence of PLGA. The duration of tempering of the polymer solutions showed no impact on their melting behavior. The initial in vitro release of methylene blue was according to the solvent diffusion kinetics. CONCLUSIONS: Low hemolytic potential, suitable viscosity for injection, stability of PLGA solutions in PEG500DME and the correlation between phase separation and in vitro release confirmed the potential of PEG500DME as a promising solvent for ISFD.

PEGylation of poly(ethylene imine) affects stability of complexes with plasmid DNA under in vivo conditions in a dose-dependent manner after intravenous injection into mice.

The influence of PEGylation on polyplex stability from poly(ethylene imine), PEI, and plasmid DNA was investigated both in vitro and after intravenous administration in mice. Polyplexes were characterized with respect to particle size (dynamic light scattering), zeta-potential (laser Doppler anemometry), and morphology (atomic force microscopy). Pharmacokinetics and organ accumulation of both polymers and pDNA were investigated using 125I and 32P radioactive labels, respectively. Furthermore gene expression patterns after 48 h were measured in mice. To elucidate the effect of different doses, all experiments were performed using ca. 1.5 microg and 25 microg of pDNA per mouse. Our studies demonstrated that both PEI and PEG-PEI form stable polyplexes with DNA with similar sizes of 100-130 nm. The zeta potential of PEI/pDNA polyplexes was highly positive, whereas PEG-PEI/pDNA showed a neutral surface charge as expected. The pharmacokinetic and organ distribution profiles after 2 h show similarities for both PEI and pDNA blood-level time curves from polyplexes at both doses indicative for significant stability in the bloodstream. A very rapid clearance from the bloodstream was observed and as major organs of accumulation liver and spleen were identified. PEG-PEI/pDNA complexes at a dose of approximately 25 microg exhibit similar profiles except a significantly lower deposition in the lung. At the lower dose of approximately 1.5 microg pDNA, however, for polyplexes from PEG-PEI, significant differences in blood level curves and organ accumulation of polymer and pDNA were found. In this case PEG-PEI shows a greatly enhanced circulation time in the bloodstream. By contrast, pDNA was rapidly cleared from circulation and significant amounts of radioactivity were found in the urine, suggesting a rapid degradation possibly by serum nucleases after complex separation. Regarding in vivo gene expression, no luciferase expression could be detected at approximately 1.5 microg dose in any organ using both types of complexes. At 25 microg only in the case of PEI/pDNA complexes were significant levels of the reporter gene detected in lung, liver, and spleen. This coincided with high initial accumulation of pDNA complexed with PEI and a high acute in vivo toxicity. For PEG-PEI, initial accumulation was much lower and no gene expression as well as a low acute toxicity was found. In summary, our data demonstrate that PEG-PEI used in this study is not suitable for low dose gene delivery. At a higher dose of approximately 25 microg, however, polyplex stability is similar to PEI/pDNA combined with a more favorable organ deposition and significantly lower acute in vivo toxicity. These findings have consequences for the design of PEG-PEI-based gene delivery systems for in vivo application.

Effect of poly(ethylene imine) molecular weight and pegylation on organ distribution and pharmacokinetics of polyplexes with oligodeoxynucleotides in mice.

The in vivo body distribution and the pharmacokinetics of a 20mer double-stranded nuclear factor kappaB decoy oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) complexed with 25-kDa poly(ethylene imine) (PEI), low molecular weight 2.7-kDa PEI, and PEGylated PEI [bPEI(25k)-glPEG(550)(50)] after intravenous injection were studied in BALB/c mice using a double-labeling technique to follow simultaneously the distribution of both complex components. The polymers were radioactively labeled with (125)I by Bolton-Hunter reagent and the decoys with [gamma-(32)P]ATP by an enzymatic 5'-end-labeling technique. After i.v. bolus injections into the jugular vein, organ samples were taken after 15 min, 2 h and 12 h. For pharmacokinetic studies blood and plasma samples were collected from 20 s up to 2 h. Uncomplexed decoy was found to be degraded already after 15 min and was rapidly eliminated renally into urine. Complexation with the homopolymers increased the organ levels and circulation time of ODN after 15 min, with similar organ distribution profiles for (125)I and (32)P. In contrast to the behavior of free ODN, the complexes were mainly distributed into liver and spleen. Whereas the organ concentrations of (125)I remained high over 12 h, the (32)P values of ODN decreased in a time-dependent manner, likely due to separation of the complexes and degradation of the DNA. Although PEGylated PEI demonstrated a slower (125)I-uptake into the RES organs compared with 25-kDa PEI due to the shielding effect of PEG [poly(ethylene glycol)], it was not able to better stabilize the complexes in the circulation or protect DNA from degradation.

Physicochemical and biological characterization of polyethylenimine-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) block copolymers as a delivery system for oligonucleotides and ribozymes.

Two different series of polyethylenimine (PEI) block copolymers grafted with linear poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were investigated as delivery systems for oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) and ribozymes. The resulting interpolyelectrolyte complexes were characterized with respect to their physicochemical properties, protection efficiency against enzymatic degradation, complement activation, and biological activity under in vitro conditions. The effect of PEG molecular weight and the graft density of PEG blocks on complex characteristics was studied with two different series of block copolymers. The resulting ODN complexes were characterized by photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) and laser Doppler anemometry (LDA) to determine complex size and zeta potential. Electrophoresis was performed to study the protective effects of the different block copolymers against enzymatic degradation of ODN. Intact ODN was quantified via densitometric analysis. Ribozymes, a particularly unstable type of oligonucleotides, were used to examine the influence of block copolymer structure on biological activity. The stabilization of ribozymes was also characterized in a cell culture model. Within the first series of block copolymers, the grafted PEG chains (5 kDa) had marginal influence on the complex size. Two grafted PEG chains were sufficient to achieve a neutral zeta potential. Within the second series, size and zeta potential increased with an increasing number of PEG chains. A high number of short PEG chains resulted in a decrease in complex size to values comparable to that of the homopolymer PEI 25 kDa and a neutral zeta potential, indicating a complete shielding of the charges. Complement activation decreased with an increasing number of short PEG 550 Da chains. Ribozyme complexes with PEG-PEI block copolymers achieved a 50% down-regulation of the target mRNA. This effect demonstrated an efficient stabilization and biological activity of the ribozyme, which was comparable to that of PEI 25 kDa. PEGylated PEI block copolymers represent a promising new class of drug delivery systems for ODN and ribozymes with increased biocompatibility and physical stability.

Efficiency of polyethylenimines and polyethylenimine-graft-poly (ethylene glycol) block copolymers to protect oligonucleotides against enzymatic degradation.

Enzymatic instability of oligonucleotides (ON) is one of the major drawbacks of this new class of therapeutic agents. The development of safe, efficient delivery systems capable of stabilizing and protecting these molecules within the formulation, as well as during application, is a challenge in modern gene therapy. In the present study, polyethylenimine (PEI) of different molecular weights and PEGylated PEI block copolymers (PEI-g-PEG) were investigated with regard to their protective properties when complexes with chemically unmodified DNA (d-ON) and RNA (r-ON) oligonucleotides. PEI/ON complexes were incubated with different amounts of serum or nucleases. The influence of pH on the stability was studied and the integrity of the ON was determined by gel electrophoresis. The amount of stable ON within the gels was quantified via densitometric analysis. PEI homopolymers ranging from 800 to 2 kDa protected both types of ON very efficiently, whereas PEI 0.8 kDa demonstrated a slight decrease in protection. The PEGylated PEI derivatives generally protected ON as efficiently as the PEI homopolymers. In particular, the PEI-g-PEG derivative containing 100 PEG chains of 550 Da yielded the highest protection efficiency for both d-ON and r-ON. In general, the highest protection could be achieved at pH 6.7. The ratio of polymer and ON (N/P ratio) also had a great impact on ON stability with higher N/P ratios achieving a better protection. In conclusion, PEIs showed advantageous protective properties for ON. The results of this study offer indications for a rational design of PEI derivatives for the protection and the delivery of ON.

Pegylated polyethylenimine-Fab' antibody fragment conjugates for targeted gene delivery to human ovarian carcinoma cells.

Specific targeting of ovarian carcinoma cells using pegylated polyethylenimine (PEG-PEI) conjugated to the antigen binding fragment (Fab') of the OV-TL16 antibody, which is directed to the OA3 surface antigen, was the objective of this study. OA3 is expressed by a majority of human ovarian carcinoma cell lines. To demonstrate the ability of the PEG-PEI-Fab' to efficiently complex DNA, an ethidium bromide exclusion assay was performed. Comparison with PEG-PEI or PEI 25 kDa showed only minor differences in the ability to condense DNA. Since conjugation of Fab' to PEG-PEI might influence complex stability, this issue was addressed by incubating the complexes with increasing amounts of heparin. This assay revealed stability similar to that of unmodified PEG-PEI/DNA or PEI 25 kDa/DNA complexes. Complexes displayed a size of approximately 150 nm with a zeta potential close to neutral. The latter property is of particular interest for potential in vivo use, since a neutral surface charge reduces nonspecific interactions. Binding studies using flow cytometry and fluorescently labeled DNA revealed a more than 6-fold higher degree of binding of PEG-PEI-Fab'/DNA complexes to epitope-expressing cell lines compared to unmodified PEG-PEI/DNA complexes. In OA3-expressing OVCAR-3 cells, luciferase reporter gene expression was elevated up to 80-fold compared to PEG-PEI and was even higher than that of PEI 25 kDa. The advantage of this system is its specificity, which was demonstrated by competition experiments with free Fab' in the cell culture media during transfection experiments and by using OA3-negative cells. In the latter case, only a low level of reporter gene expression could be achieved with PEG-PEI-Fab'.

Low-molecular-weight polyethylenimine as a non-viral vector for DNA delivery: comparison of physicochemical properties, transfection efficiency and in vivo distribution with high-molecular-weight polyethylenimine.

Low-molecular-weight polyethylenimine (LMW-PEI) was synthesized by the acid-catalyzed, ring-opening polymerization of aziridine and compared with commercially available high-molecular-weight PEI (HMW-PEI) of 25 kDa. Molecular weights were determined by size-exclusion chromatography in combination with multi-angle laser light scattering. The weight average molecular weight (M(w)) of synthesized LMW-PEI was determined as 5.4+/-0.5 kDa, whereas commercial HMW-PEI showed a M(w) of 48+/-2 kDa. DNA polyplexes of LMW-PEI and HMW-PEI were characterized with regard to DNA condensation (ethidium bromide fluorescence quenching), size (photon correlation spectroscopy) and surface charge (laser Doppler anemometry). Compared with HMW-PEI, DNA condensation of LMW-PEI was slightly impaired at lower N/P ratios. Complexes with plasmid DNA at a N/P ratio of 6.7 showed significantly increased hydrodynamic diameters (590+/-140 vs. 160+/-10 nm), while the zeta-potential measurements were similar (23+/-2 vs. 30+/-3 mV). The cytotoxicity of LMW-PEI in L929 fibroblasts was reduced by more than one order of magnitude compared with HMW-PEI, as shown by MTT assay. LMW-PEI exhibited increased transfection efficiency in six different cell lines. Reporter gene expression was found to be increased by a factor of 2.1-110. The pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of 125I-PEI in mice were similar for both molecular weights with an AUC of ca. 330+/-100% ID/ml min. Approximately half of the injected dose accumulated in the liver. LMW-PEI proved to be an efficient gene delivery system in a broad range of cell lines. Due to differences in polyplex structure, as well as its relatively low cytotoxicity, which makes the application of high N/P ratios possible, LMW-PEI appears to possess advantageous qualities with regard to transfection efficiency over PEI of higher molecular weight.

Copolymers of ethylene imine and N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-ethylene imine as tools to study effects of polymer structure on physicochemical and biological properties of DNA complexes.

A series of five poly[(ethylene imine)-co-N-(2-hydroxyethyl-ethylene imine)] copolymers with similar molecular weights and different degrees of branching was established to study structure-function relationship with regard to physicochemical and biological properties as gene delivery systems. Copolymers were synthesized by acid-catalyzed ring-opening copolymerization of aziridine and N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-aziridine in aqueous solution and characterized by GPC-MALLS, (1)H- and (13)C NMR, IR, potentiometric titration, and ion exchange chromatography. Complexation of DNA was determined by agarose gel electrophoresis, and complex sizes were quantitated by PCS. Cytotoxicity of the copolymers in fibroblasts was assessed by MTT-assay, LDH-assay, and hemolysis. The transfection efficiency was determined using the reporter plasmid pGL3 in 3T3 mouse fibroblasts. The copolymers obtained by solution polymerization had relatively low molecular weights of about 2000 Da, and the degree of branching increased with increasing ethylene imine ratio. The pK(a) as well as the buffer capacity increased proportional to the number of primary and secondary amines. Higher branched polymers showed stronger complexation and condensation of DNA, formed smaller polymer/DNA complexes, and induced the expression of plasmids to a higher extent than less branched polymers. In vitro cytotoxic effects and the hemolysis of erythrocytes decreased with decreased branching. Our results indicate that the basicity and degree of protonation of the polymers depending on their amount of primary and secondary amines seem to be important factors both for their transfection efficiency and for their cytotoxicity in gene transfer.

Star-shaped poly(ethylene glycol)-block-polyethylenimine copolymers enhance DNA condensation of low molecular weight polyethylenimines.

Star-shaped poly(ethylene glycol)-block-polyethylenimine [star-(PEG-b-PEI)] significantly enhance plasmid DNA condensation of low molecular weight (MW) PEIs. The star-block copolymers were prepared via a facile synthesis route using hexamethylene diisocyanate as linker between PEG and PEI blocks. NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy confirmed the structures of intermediately activated PEG and final products. Furthermore, the copolymers were characterized by size exclusion chromatography, static light scattering, and viscosimetry. Their molecular weights (M(w) 19-26 kDa) were similar to high MW PEI (25 kDa). Thermoanalytical investigations (thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry) were also performed and verified successful copolymer synthesis. DNA condensation with the low MW PEIs (800 and 2000 Da) and their 4- and 8-star-block copolymers was studied using atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering, zeta-potential measurements, and ethidium bromide (EtBr) exclusion assay. It was found that low MW PEIs formed huge aggregates (500 nm to 2 microm) in which DNA is only loosely condensed. By contrast, the star-block copolymers yielded small (80-110 nm), spherical and compact complexes that were stable against aggregation even at high ionic strength and charge neutrality. Furthermore, as revealed in the EtBr exclusion assay these star-block copolymers exhibited a DNA condensation potential as high as high MW PEI. Since these star-(PEG-block-PEI) copolymers are composed of relatively nontoxic low MW PEI and biocompatible PEG, their potential as gene delivery agents merits further investigations.

The structure of PEG-modified poly(ethylene imines) influences biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of their complexes with NF-kappaB decoy in mice.

PURPOSE: To study the relationship between structure of poly(ethylene imine-co-ethylene glycol), PEI-PEG, copolymers and physicochemical properties as well as in vivo behavior of their complexes with NF-kappaB decoy. METHODS: A variety of copolymers of PEG grafted onto PEI as well as PEI grafted onto PEG were synthesized and their complexes with a double stranded 20mer oligonucleotide were examined regarding size, surface charge, biodistribution and pharmacokinetics. RESULTS: Polyplexes of copolymers were smaller compared to polyplexes formed by non-PEGylated PEI 25 kDa (58 - 334 nm vs. 437 nm for a nitrogen/phosphate ratio of 3.5 and 85 - 308 nm vs. 408 nm for N/P 6.0) and showed reduced zeta potential (-2.5 - 6.4 mV vs. 14.5 mV for N/P 6.0). IV injection into mice revealed liver (35-76% of injected dose), kidney (3 - 22%) and spleen (2 - 16%) to be the main target organs for all injected complexes. Complexes formed by copolymers with few PEG blocks of higher molecular weight (5 kDa and 20 kDa) grafted onto PEI 25 kDa did not show different blood levels from PEI 25 kDa. In contrast, a copolymer with more short PEG blocks (550 Da) grafted onto PEI showed elevated blood levels with an increase in AUC of 62 %. CONCLUSIONS: A sufficiently high density of PEG molecules is necessary to effectively prevent opsonization and thereby rapid clearance from blood stream.

Poly(ethylenimine-co-L-lactamide-co-succinamide): a biodegradable polyethylenimine derivative with an advantageous pH-dependent hydrolytic degradation for gene delivery.

A biodegradable gene transfer vector has been synthesized by linking several low molecular weight (MW) polyethylenimine (PEI, 1200 Da) blocks using an oligo(L-lactic acid-co-succinic acid) (OLSA, 1000 Da). The resulting copolymer P(EI-co-LSA) (8 kDa) is soluble in water and degrades via base-catalyzed hydrolytic cleavage of amide bonds. With regard to its application as a gene transfer agent, the polymer showed an interesting pH dependency of degradation. At pH 5, when DNases are highly active, the degradation proceeds at a slower rate than at a physiological pH of 7.4. PEI and P(EI-co-LSA) spontaneously formed complexes with plasmid DNA. Whereas the complexes formed with PEI were not stable and aggregated, forming particles of up to 1 microm hydrodynamic diameter, P(EI-co-LSA) formed complexes, which were about 150 nm in size and of narrow size distribution. The latter complexes were stable, due to their high surface charge (zeta-potential + 18 mV). Similar to low MW PEI, the copolymer exhibited a low toxicity profile. At the same time, the copolymer showed a significant enhancement of transfection activity in comparison to the low MW PEI. This makes P(EI-co-LSA) a promising candidate for long-term gene therapy where biocompatibility and biodegradability become increasingly important.

Polyethylenimine-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymers: influence of copolymer block structure on DNA complexation and biological activities as gene delivery system.

For two series of polyethylenimine-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEI-g-PEG) block copolymers, the influence of copolymer structure on DNA complexation was investigated and physicochemical properties of these complexes were compared with the results of blood compatibility, cytotoxicity, and transfection activity assays. In the first series, PEI (25 kDa) was grafted to different degrees of substitution with PEG (5 kDa) and in the second series the molecular weight (MW) of PEG was varied (550 Da to 20 kDa). Using atomic force microscopy, we found that the copolymer block structure strongly influenced the DNA complex size and morphology: PEG 5 kDa significantly reduced the diameter of the spherical complexes from 142 +/- 59 to 61 +/- 28 nm. With increasing degree of PEG grafting, complexation of DNA was impeded and complexes lost their spherical shape. Copolymers with PEG 20 kDa yielded small, compact complexes with DNA (51 +/- 23 nm) whereas copolymers with PEG 550 Da resulted in large and diffuse structures (130 +/- 60 nm). The zeta-potential of complexes was reduced with increasing degree of PEG grafting if MW >or= 5 kDa. PEG 550 Da did not shield positive charges of PEI sufficiently leading to hemolysis and erythrocyte aggregation. Cytotoxicity (lactate dehydrogenase assay) was independent of MW of PEG but affected by the degree of PEG substitution: all copolymers with more than six PEG blocks formed DNA complexes of low toxicity. Finally, transfection efficiency of the complexes was studied. The combination of large particles, low toxicity, and high positive surface charge as in the case of copolymers with many PEG 550 Da blocks proved to be most efficient for in vitro gene transfer. To conclude, the degree of PEGylation and the MW of PEG were found to strongly influence DNA condensation of PEI and therefore also affect the biological activity of the PEI-g-PEG/DNA complexes. These results provide a basis for the rational design of block copolymer gene delivery systems.